Antisemitism Microgrants
In response to rising Jew-hatred, Memphis Jewish Federation provides these resources to empower you with knowledge, take meaningful action against hate, and shine our light on antisemitism.
GRANT OPPORTUNITY!
ANTISEMITISM MICROGRANT 2025:
Antisemitism
Antisemitism, also referred to as Jew-hatred, is a form of prejudice directed toward Jews as individuals and as a group. Based on age-old stereotypes, myths, and tropes that target Jews as a people and their religious, cultural, and nationalistic practices and beliefs, antisemitism manifests through rhetoric, symbols, and images, attacks on property and institutions, and violent assaults.
In recent years, antisemitism in the United States has risen dramatically and has become more mainstream. The threat has significantly increased since the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre in Israel. According to the Anti-Defamation League, in the period since the October 7 massacre, antisemitic incidents in the U.S. have skyrocketed, with more than 10,000 reported incidents from October 2023 to late 2024, representing a more than 200% increase over a year.
Of the total, at least 2,000 incidents occurred on college campuses, and over 1,000 were reported in K-12 schools. Over 2,000 reported incidents targeted Jewish institutions, including synagogues and community centers. A clear majority of these incidents could be directly related to the Israel-Hamas War. For the first time since the ADL began tracking attitudes toward antisemitism, surveys show higher levels of antisemitic views among younger generations than older ones.
Antisemitism is impacting Jewish people’s attitudes and behaviors. 77% of American Jews say they feel less safe in the U.S. as a Jew compared to two years ago. For the first time in decades, more than half of American Jews (56%) say they changed their behavior at least once out of fear of antisemitism this past year (American Jewish Committee, March 2025).
Anti-Jewish bias, hate, and violence are symptoms of an ill society about which all Americans should be concerned. In a society rife with antisemitism, racism and other forms of hate are not far behind.
Click the image above to apply.
Microgrant Opportunity:
To raise awareness about antisemitism and the dangers it poses to civil society, Memphis Jewish Federation is offering program-based reimbursement microgrants for $500-$3000 to non-profit organizations in greater Memphis* for initiatives and programming to take place through June 30th, 2026 that accomplish one or more of the following goals:
• Raise awareness about the history and/or current state of antisemitism.
• Provide education and/or training in best practices/effective response methods.
• Take action through advocacy efforts.
• Educate the broader Memphis community about Jews and Judaism to dispel antisemitic myths and tropes.
• Explore how antisemitism manifests as anti-Zionism.
• Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
* Must have 501c3 status or a non-profit fiscal sponsor
Previous Awardee Program Examples:
• Memphis Public Library hosted a Holocaust survivor's granddaughter for a powerful workshop on antisemitism at their teen Diversity Camp, helping young people understand Jewish culture while inspiring them to become allies against prejudice.
• Memphis University School implemented a three-part antisemitism awareness program, including faculty professional development, an alumni speaker sharing personal experiences with antisemitism, and a summer reading program focused on Holocaust literature.
• Facing History & Ourselves developed and delivered a workshop for Memphis educators on recognizing and addressing antisemitism in the classroom, providing tools to help teachers and students identify and respond effectively to antisemitic incidents.
• Church Health offered a three-part educational series for staff featuring a documentary screening on modern antisemitism, follow-up discussions with local Jewish leaders, and training on recognizing and responding to antisemitism in everyday situations.
• Junior League of Memphis partnered with educational experts to host an antisemitism awareness training for members, complemented by a cultural learning experience through a Jewish cuisine cooking class.